Chapter 13 Psychological Disorders PDF

Preview

Summary

textbook and class notes ...

Description

Chapter 13 Psychological Disorders What is abnormal behavior? 

Charting the boundaries between normal and abnormal behavior o Psychologists typically identify abnormal behavior based on a combination of the following criteria  Unusualness. Behavior that is unusual, or experienced by only a few, many be abnormal- but in all cases or situations.  Social deviance. All societies establish standards or social norms that define socially acceptable behaviors  Emotional distress. States of emotional distress, such as anxiety or depression, are considered abnormal when inappropriate, excessive, or prolonged relative to the person’s situation  Maladaptive behavior. behavior is maladaptive when it causes personal distress, is self-defeating, or is associated with significant health, social, or occupational problems  Dangerousness. Violent or dangerous behavior is another criterion for which we need to examine the social context  Faulty perceptions or interpretations of reality.  Hallucinations- hearing voices or seeing things that are not there  Delusions- fixed out unfounded beliefs o Cultural bases of abnormal behavior  What is or is not normal varies by culture  Can change over time within a culture Models of abnormal behavior o Early beliefs  Demonic possession o Medical model- a framework for understanding abnormal behavior patterns as systems of underlying physical disorders or diseases  Physical or biological explanations  Mental illnesses o Psychological models  Psychodynamic  Unconscious conflicts that remain unresolved from childhood  Behavioral  Most forms of abnormal behavior are learned  Humanistic  Roadblocks on the path toward personal growth or self-actualization  Cognitive  Irrational or distorted thinking leads to emotional problems and maladaptive behavior o The sociocultural model  Social and cultural contexts in which it occurs  Stigma of mental illness label

Biopsychosocial model- an integrative model for explaining abnormal behavior patterns in terms of the interactions of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors  Diathesis-stress model-a type of biopsychosocial model that relates the development of disorders to the combination of a diathesis or predisposition, usually genetic in origin, and exposure to stressful events or life circumstances  Diathesis- a vulnerability or predisposition to develop a disorder What is psychological disorder? o Psychological disorders- Abnormal behavior patterns characterized by disturbances in behavior, thinking, perceptions, or emotions that are associated with significant personal distress or impaired functioning. Also called mental disorders or mental illnesses o How many are affected? o How are psychological disorders classified?  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)  Most widely used  Provides criteria clinicians use to diagnose these disorders  Not a cookbook! o Reliability & validity – too reliant on medical model? o Work in progress 



Anxiety- related disorders 

Types of disorders o Phobias- excessive or irrational fears of particular objects or situations  Social anxiety disorder- a type of anxiety disorder involving excessive fear of social situations. Also called social phobia  Specific phobia- phobia reactions involving specific situations or objects  Acrophobia- excessive fear of heights  Claustrophobia- excessive fear of enclosed spaces  Agoraphobia- excessive, irrational fear of being in public places. o Panic disorder  Panic disorder- a type of anxiety disorder involving repeated episodes of sheer terror called panic attacks  Physical symptoms:  Profuse sweating  Nausea  Numbness or tingling  Flushes or chills  Trembling  Chest pain  Shortness of breath  Pounding of the heart o Generalized anxiety disorder  Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)- a type of anxiety disorder involving persistent and generalized anxiety and worry

Obsessive- compulsive disorder  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)- a psychological disorder involving the repeated occurrence of obsessions and or compulsions  Obsessions – intrusive thoughts  Compulsions – repetitive behaviors Causes of anxiety related disorders o Biological factors  Genetic factors may affect brain circuitry involved in the body’s response to threatening stimuli  Amygdala  Neurotransmitters  Abnormalities in brain circuits o Psychological factors  Classical conditioning  Operant conditioning  Cognitive Model of Panic  Triggering stimulus (internal or external  Perceived threat o Feelings of apprehension or worry o Body sensations o Catastrophic of sensations o



Dissociative and somatic symptom and related disorders 

 

Dissociative disorders o Dissociative disorders- a class of psychological disorders involving changes in consciousness, memory or self-identity o Dissociative identity disorder (DID)- a type of disorder characterized by the appearance of multiple personalities in the same individual o Dissociative amnesiaCauses of dissociative disorders Somatic system and related disorders o Formerly referred to as somatoform disorders o Somatic symptom and related disorders- a class of psychological disorders involving physical ailments or complaints that cannot be explained by organic causes or that involve exaggerated concerns about the seriousness of these symptoms o Conversation disorder- a psychological disorder characterized by a change in a loss of physical functions that cannot be explained by medical causes  La belle indifférence (“beautiful indifference”) o Somatic symptom disorder  Hypochondriasis- a psychological disorder in which there is excessive concern that one’s physical complaints are signs of underlying serious illness o Causes of somatic symptom and related disorders  Psychodynamic - defense mechanisms (repression)

Secondary gain - prevent the individual from having to confront stressful or conflict-laden situations o reward value of having a psychological or physical symptom, such as release from ordinary responsibilities Learning/Behavioral - “sick role”  Helping individuals avoid painful or anxiety-evoking situations Cognitive - cognitive biases  “make mountains out of molehills” - similar to panic disorder 

  Mood disorders 





Types of mood disorders o Major depression- the most common type of depressive disorder, characterized by periods of downcast mood, feelings of worthlessness, and loss of interest in pleasurable activities o Bipolar disorder- a type of mood disorder characterized by mood swings from extreme elation (mania) to sever depression.  Manic episodes- Periods of mania, or usually elevated mood and extreme restlessness  Pressured speech (talking too rapidly)  Flight of ideas (jumping from topic to topic)  Inflated sense of self-worth (grandiosity Causes of mood disorderso Psychological factors  Psychodynamic- internalized feelings of anger  Behavioral- reduced frequency of reinforcement  Cognitive- maladaptive interpretation of life events o learned helplessness model- the view that depression results from the perception of a lack of control over the reinforcements in one’s life that may result from exposure to incontrollable negative events o attributional style- a person’s characteristic way of explaining outcomes of events in his or her life  internal versus external  global versus specific  stable versus unstable o Depressive attribution style- a characteristic way of explaining negative events in terms of internal, stable and global causes Biological factors o Disturbances in neurotransmitter functioning in the brain  Serotonin  Antidepressants  Oversensitivity or imbalance of receptors  Prefrontal cortex & hippocampus o Genetic influences  Genes involved in neurotransmitter functioning



Suicide o Who is most at risk?  Age: higher among middle age and older adults, 75+ males  Gender: more women attempt, 3x men complete  Race/ ethnicity: white & Native Americans o Causal factors in suicide  Feelings of hopelessness  Perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness  Disinhibition effect- the removal of normal restraints or inhibitions that serve to keep impulsive behavior in check  Drug/ alcohol dependence  Lack of coping strategies & support (exit events)

Schizophrenia 



Symptoms of schizophrenia o Psychotic disorder- a psychological disorder, such as schizophrenia, characterized by a “break” with reality.  Hallucinations- perceptions that occur without external stimuli  Auditory  Visual  Delusions- fixed but patently false  Thought disorder- breakdown in the logical structure of thought and speech, revealed in the form of a loosening of associations o Psychopathic  Unemotional  Manipulative  Displays antisocial behaviors  Lacks remorse  Displays superficial charm  Not psychotic o Schizophrenia- a severe and chronic psychological disorder characterized by disturbances in thinking, perception, emotions and behavior o Positive symptoms- symptoms of schizophrenia involving behavioral excesses, such as hallucinations and delusions o Negative symptoms- behavioral deficits associated with schizophrenia such as withdrawal and apathy, lack of facial expression o Acute episodes- positive symptoms appear, negative symptoms typically remain after acute episodes fade o Catatonic(rare)- relating to catatonia, a condition involving states of stupor and unresponsiveness to the environment  Waxy flexibility- a feature of catatonia characterized by maintaining a body position or posture in which the person was placed by others Causes of schizophrenia o Affects about 1% of population

o o o o o o o o o

o o o o

Onset in young adulthood Strong genetic influence Adoption & twin studies Diathesis-stress model Dopamine & antipsychotic drugs Structural brain abnormalities Prefrontal cortex Limbic system Life stress (diathesis-stress model)  Biological – early brain trauma  Psychosocial – abuse  Negative life events – deaths, failures  Hostile Environments Genetic factors Biochemical imbalances Brain abnormalities Psychosocial influences

Personality disorders 



Antisocial personality disorder o Blatant disregard for social rules & regulations o Antisocial (and sometimes criminal) behavior o Callous, impulsive, irresponsible o Lack of remorse & lack of empathy o Takes advantage of others o BUT: intelligence, superficial charm o Casual factors in antisocial personality disorder  Genetic Factors  Brain abnormalities – emotions & impulsivity  Need for higher levels of stimulation  Environmental Factors  Lack of parental warmth, nurturing  Neglect, abuse, punishment, rejection  Affects about 6% of men, 1% of women Borderline personality disorder o Unstable moods/mood swings o Stormy relationships with others o Unstable self-image o Feelings of “emptiness” o Impulsivity o Self-destructive behaviors, such as cutting themselves o “Splitting” – abruptly shifting from either thinking someone is “all good” to “all bad” o Casual factors n borderline personality disorder

    

Childhood physical or sexual abuse or neglect Predisposition combined with an invalidating environment Brain abnormalities & genetic factors Affects about 1.6% to 5.9% of the population ‘Women diagnosed more...